About Albey Lyman Sherman

Albey Lyman Sherman, son of Lyman Royal Sherman (1804 - 1839) and Delcena Diademia Johnson (1806 - 1854), was born 30 October 1832 at Pomfret, Chautauqua County, New York. He died 18 September 1911at Huntington, Emery County, Utah, and was buried at Huntington City Cemetery, Huntington, Emery County, Utah, United States.

Marriage and Children

Mary Elvira Swan (1835 - 1914)

Mary Elvira Sherman (1856 - 1937)

Albey William Sherman (1859 - 1918)

Lyman Royal Sherman (1860 - 1952)

Delcena Elizabeth Sherman (1861 - 1935)

Ellen Viola Sherman (1863 - 1902)

George Alfonzo Sherman (1865 - 1948)

Don Franklin Sherman (1867 - 1943)

Susan Julia Sherman (1869 - 1956)

Orlo Lionel Sherman (1872 - 1936)

David Edgar Sherman (1872 - 1936)

Gertrude Estell Sherman Gordon (1874 - 1962)

Joel Elmer Sherman (1876 - 1929)

Ada Cornelia Sherman Jones (1879 - 1958)

History of Albey Lyman Sherman by Mary Jones Brown, grandaughter

Albey Lyman Sherman (1832 - 1911) was born at Pomfret, Chautauqua County, New York, not far from Palmyra, where Joseph Smith discovered the golden plates that eventually became the basis for The Book of Mormon. Albey's parents were among the earliest converts to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, having been baptized in the fall of 1831, before Sherman was born.

When Joseph Smith received a revelation that the Church should move to Ohio, Albey's parents moved, too. His father, Lyman Royal Sherman, assisted with the laying of the corner stones of the Kirtland Temple on 23 July 1833.

From Kirtland he moved his family to Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, where the Saints experienced much persecution. Albey was about seven years old in January or February 1839 when his father took cold and died. Delcena, Albey’s mother was left a widow with six small children. The Saints were forced to leave Far West about the last of March. Assisted by her brother and brother-in-law, the little family crossed the Missouri River at Quincy, Illinois. Albey's mother decided to stay in Quincy with her children until it should be known where the next gathering place of the Saints would be.

Albey's boyhood days were spent being persecuted by the mobs and being driven from town to town and from state to state. He must have had many frightening experiences. The next move was to Nauvoo, Illinois, where Albey and his brothers and sisters attended school in Nauvoo during 1842-1844.

John Seter baptized Albey in 1844. As soon as the Nauvoo Temple was ready, Albey’s mother was sealed to her husband 24 January 1846. She also did baptisms for many of her dead relatives.

Albey was once told a family member that he knew the Prophet Joseph Smith better than he knew his own father. He was in the Smith home a great deal. He remembered sitting on one of the Prophet’s knees while his son Joseph, about the same age, sat on the other.

He witnessed the burning of the Nauvoo Temple on 19 November 1848 about three o’clock in the morning. Although it was still dark the fire burned so brightly as to render the smallest objects discernible. Albey later remembered, “It was so light that they could see to read a newspaper several blocks away.” The sorrow of the Saints at the loss of their temple was great.

Albey lived in Nauvoo at the time when great persecutions were taking place, when the mob was after the Prophet Joseph Smith and other leaders of the Church. He witnessed the sorrow and mourning among the Saints when their beloved Prophet, Joseph Smith, and Patriarch, Hyrum Smith, were shot and killed by the mob. Albey was about fourteen years old at the time.

In the middle of the winter the Saints were forced out of their homes and farms, only able to take a few small things hurriedly thrown in their wagons. They crossed the Mississippi River on the ice and made camp on the Iowa side. On the first night of their encampment nine babies were born in the extreme cold weather. The people were without proper clothing and necessary shelter. Many of the wagons were without covers, and many that were covered would not shed rain. The roads were almost impassable because of constant storms. Many died of sickness and exposure, including Albey's brother, Daniel.

They arrived in Council Bluffs, Iowa 11 July 1849. Here Delcina lost three more children: Alvira (20), Mary (19) and Seth (15) all in the year of 1850. By the time the family left Council Bluffs for Utah, only two of Delcina's six children were still living.

In 1854 Albey Lyman Sherman, his mother, Delcina, and his youngest sister, Susan Julia, started across the plains on the last lap of their journey. He was married the 10 June 1854 to Mary Elvira Swan at the North Platte River. She was born 15 December 1835 in Scotland and was the daughter of George Swan and Elizabeth Warrender. It had been reported that there had been a birth and a death on the trip and it was suggested that they also have a marriage, so they were married on the plains.

That same year, shortly after they arrived in the valley, Albey's mother, Delcina died 21 October 1854 in Salt Lake City. She had been in very poor health while crossing the plains but had struggled on until she reached Zion. Her passing was one of Albey's greatest sorrows.

In the spring of 1855 Albey and his wife moved to Payson, Utah, where their first child was born on 29 April 1855. Much to their sorrow the baby died the following day. From there they moved to Santaquin, Utah, where their next two children, Mary Elvira and Albey William were born. In 1860 they moved to Fountain Green, Sanpete County, Utah, where they were some of the first settlers. The rest of their children were born in Fountain Green.

Albey took an active part in the Black Hawk War. Chief Black Hawk's tribe raided the settlements, stealing livestock. The men would attempt to recover the livestock stolen by pursuing the Indians and many men were killed by Indian ambush.

In 1866 Albey was gone about six months when President Brigham Young called for volunteers to go to Missouri to assist impoverished immigrants in crossing the plains.

At a call from the church authorities in the spring of 1879 he helped settle Huntington. Some family accompanied him. He took up and worked 160 acres of land north of town. He brought the rest of his family in October 1880. The first winter they lived in a dugout on the Huntington River. The following summer they built a large log room. Later they built another room about the same size and connected them together with a room made of lumber instead of logs, which they used for a kitchen.

Albey Lyman Sherman spent his life pioneering; making roads, building bridges and canals. A man of many talents, he was considered to be a good butcher; he made and sold good soda crackers; he accompanied swimming parties to serve as a lifesaver in case of trouble; he acted as an interpreter as he could understand and speak the Indian language; and he was considered a very good teamster and had very fine, well-trained horses. He served his church as a High Priest and missionary, and supported his family working as a farmer and stock grower.

In 1897 they built a home on Main Street in the Huntington town site where Albey spend the remainder of his life. He died 18 September 1911 at age 78.